Circuit closer for anemometers



June 19., 1928.

v 1,674,545 C. H. DUFFY CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ANEMOMETERS Filed Sept. 22, 1920 F1 1 2 Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES CHAR-LES HUGH DUFFY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR ANEMOMETERS.

Application filed September 22, 1920. Serial No. 411,927.

This invention relates to electrical circuit closers particularly applicable to anemometers and the like, said electrical circuit closers being also generally applicable whereever a contact of short and of uniform duration is desired.

In the present application of the invention the same has for its object to provide an electrical circuit closer for anemometers for use :a in observation balloons, the anemometer being in the telephone circuit, which extends from the balloon basket to the ground, the anemometer being disposed on the balloon basket. In such an arrangement, it is iml5 portant that the duration of contact of the circuit closer be very short and independent of rotation of the anemometer rotor so that upon rotation of the rotor even at its slowest speed, the duration of the electrical contact of the circuit closer will be instantaneous, to the end that telephonic communication between the observer and the ground is not interferred with. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical circuit closer applicable to the aforesaid purpose which is simple in construction, cheap and easy of manufacture, strong, durable and eflic'ient.

Vith these objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction of the electrical circuit closer and particularly in a construction which creates a lag in a re siliently mounted rotatable brush at a predetermined point in its orbit of rotation, and in disposing, in close proximity to the point of lag of said brush, a stationary electrical contact to be wiped by the said brush when under the influence of its resilient mounting, in such manner that the duration of the passage of the brush over the said stationary electrical contact is not dependent upon the normal speed of rotation of the said brush.

The invention further consists of certain novel details of construction and in certain combinations of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterwards specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an anemometer thereon.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the circuit closer in detail, the resiliently mounted brush being shown in its position of lag with electrical circuit closer in position in full lines and in dotted lines its position after wiping the fixed contact under the influence of its resilient mounting.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures, in which:

1 indicates an anemometer consisting of the frame 2 having a standard'3 for attachment to a balloon basket or other support so as to fix the instrument with its rotor 4 fac ing the wind. The rotor 1, in the type of instrument shown in the drawing, rotates on a horizontal axis, the shaft 5 of the rotor having a worm gear 6 thereon, meshing with a complementary worm gear-member mounted on and driving a vertical shaft 8, on the top of which isa pinion 9 meshing with a spur gear 10 mounted on a pin 11. Fixed to and rotatable withv the spur gear 10, is a metal collar 11 to which is fixed the inner end of the spiral spring 12. To the outer end of the spring 12 is preferably atfixed a bracket 13 in which is mounted a small roller 1 1, the tension of said spring 12 being such as to hold the roller 14; in contact with the. inner annular wall 15 of the insulating ring 16.

Disposed in the said annular wall 15 of the ring 16 is a fixed contact 17 having electrical connection with a binding post 18, and adjacent the said fixed contact 17 is a notch or depression 19 of sufficient depth to permit the roller 14 to enter therein in the manner as shown'in full lines in Fig. 3.

Disposed on the frame 2 of the anemometer are two binding posts 20 and 21, the latter having connection with the binding post 18, and by means of which binding posts 20 and 21 connections are made with the telephone circuit.

Having thus described the several parts of the invention, its operation is as follows:

The anemometer is shunted across the telephone circuit so that the circuit is always open when the rotor of the anemometer is at rest, and at all times except when the roller brush 14 is wiping the fixed contact 17,. During that period the circuit is momentarily closed which produces a sharp click in the telephone receiver. The instrument having been calibrated so that the velocity of the wind passing through the anemometer can be determined by the number of clicks in the telephone receiver per minute, said wind velocity at the balloon is at all times patent to the operator on the through the anemometer.

ground as well as to the observer in'the balloon without in any way causing interference with the telephonic communication be tween the two stations. I V i As the resiliently mounted brush 14 passes around the wall 15 of the ring, 16, its nor= mal speed of rotation is in direct proportionto the speed of rotation of the rotor 4-,

which speeds of rotation are in direct proportion to the velocity of the wind passing Under the influence" of slow wind velocities, the normal speed of rotation ofthe resiliently mounted brush 14 isvery slow, so that if the brush '14 wiped the fixed contact 17 atits normal a the brush 14 by providing an impediment to'its continuous rotation just adjacent to and in front of the fixed contact 17. In the present application of this principle, the notchor depression 19 momentarily stops rotation of the brush 14 just in advance of the fixed contact 17. As the inner end of the spring 12 continues its rotation during this period of rest of the brush 14, a slight additional tension is imparted to the spring 12 sufiicient to raise the contact 14 out of its notch 19and'to assume position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The contact 17 is therefore wiped by the brush 14 during thisslight expanding or. unwinding action of the spring 12 which must at all times be instantaneous.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the duration of contact between the brush 14 and theifixed contact 17 is'independent of the normal speed of rotation of the brush 14, and is at all wind velocities an instantaneous contact resulting simply in a click in the receivers ot the telephone without intertering with the telephonic communication.

- Having-t-l1us fully described the invention, it becomes obvious that a circuit closer having these characteristics may be applicable to devices other than anemometers,

' and I do not wish to be understood as limiting the" invention thereto. It is also obvious that the' circuit closer is susceptible to changes, alterations and modifications in' What- I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United'States is:

1. An'electric circuit closer including a spring mounted rot-or brush, a track-way having a unitary recess therein for interrupting the motion-of said brush on said track-way, a stationary contact outside of said unitary recess and disposed in said track way adjacent to said unitary recess.

2. An electric circuit closer including a spring mounted rotor brush, a track-way for said brush, said track-way having a unitary recess therein for iuterrupt-ing the n10- tion of said brush and for imparting tension to the spring-mounting for said brush, a stationary cont-act outside of said unitary recess and disposed in said track-way adjacent to said unitary recess. I

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

CHARLES HUGH DUFFY. 

